DIY Push-Pin Travel Map

When I was in Bangkok, Thailand (pre-COVID) I visited some family friends and I spotted a fun colorful world map studded with several colors of push-pins, carefully labelling all of the countries each family member had visited. While their jobs have taken them all over the world (so many pins!) I loved the idea and decided to make my own push-pin map with the hopes of adding many more pins over time. 

First, I searched for a (pretty) map with enough detail to be able to pin even the smallest countries. After scouring the web I ended up picking this one from RedBubble for about $35 for a 33" x 22" size. 

I could have kept it simple and just used 3M Super77 to mount it on a cork board or foam core or something similar but I saw this as an investment to be kept for a while and so decided to frame it. Unfortunately I had chosen a strange size print which made purchasing a ready-made frame challenging (and I didn't want a frame that looked like it belonged in a college dorm room). Hobby Lobby had some nice options but the sizes didn't work and Joann fabrics was going to be very pricey for a custom frame so I went looking online. 

I ended up ordering a custom frame from framesbymail.com. With matting and foam core backing (and a 1st order discount of 15%) it was $87 before shipping. Because I wanted to use pins I did not need glass though you could go the shadowbox route if you want the map protected. The frame arrived slightly damaged from shipping but the company was great and sent a replacement quickly. 

Frame and matting in hand, all I had to do was pop in my print (adhered to the foam backing with 3M Super77) and attach the mounting hardware.

The final touch was placing the pins (I found mine on Amazon (1/8 Inch Map Tacks in Pink by Moore Co.))

Pretty quick project that is a fun piece greeting you as you enter my apartment! I hope this inspires you to make your own travel map! If I was doing it all over, the only thing I would change was to pick a more conventional size print so I would not have to go the custom framing route but hey, I now have pretty matting around my map!

In other exciting news, I finished my dermatology residency training in June (over Zoom on my patio) and will be moving to Charlotte, NC to join a dermatology practice!